Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.4K
Chain-growth or addition polymerization is successive addition reactions of monomers with a polymer chain. In radical chain-growth polymerization, the reaction proceeds via a free-radical intermediate. The free radical is formed from radical initiators, which spontaneously generate free radicals by homolytic fission. Organic peroxides (such as dibenzoyl peroxide, as shown in Figure 1) or azo compounds are popular radical initiators. A low concentration ratio of radical initiator to monomer is...
2.4K
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

7.8K
The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
7.8K
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.5K
The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this...
2.5K
Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

3.4K
For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.
3.4K
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.3K
The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the...
2.3K
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

2.2K
Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
2.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A Mesopore-Confined and Graphene Oxide-Localized Ruthenium Catalyst Increases Rates of Mid-Chain Polyolefin Hydrogenolysis.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Labilized ligands under ultra-confinement: a solid-state <sup>2</sup>H NMR investigation of Ln(BH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(THF)<sub>2</sub>/HY<sub>30</sub>.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same author

Improving individual committor estimates and data efficiency in reaction coordinate tests with the empirical Bayes method.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

NH<sub>3</sub>‑Mediated Reactive Capture and Conversion: Integrating CO<sub>2</sub> Absorption from Flue Gas with CO Production via NH<sub>4</sub>HCO<sub>3</sub> Electrolysis.

ACS energy letters·2026
Same author

The paradox of gold-liposome nanohybrids: the location of gold governs unconventional properties and drives cellular behavior.

Materials horizons·2026
Same author

WWOX Induction Promotes Bcl-X<sub>L</sub> and Mcl-1 Degradation Through a Lysosomal Pathway upon Stress Responses.

Cells·2026
Same journal

Metal-Organic Framework Multizyme Colloids with Joint Antioxidant and Protease Function.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Morphology Engineering of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> via Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide-Mediated ZIF-67 Synthesis for Efficient Photo-Assisted Electrooxidation of Methanol.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Speciation of Silanol Groups on Commercial Precipitated Silicas via IR Spectroscopy.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Regenerable PVA Hydrogel-Functionalized Optical Fiber Sensor for Ultra-Trace Detection of Berberine Hydrochloride.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Hydrogen Plasma-Driven Surface Defect Engineering of ZnO Nanorods: Correlating Electronic Structure and Photoelectrochemical Performance.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Cooperative Self-Assembly of Nanoparticle-Encapsulating Hybrid Protein Cages.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2025

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

3.5K

Population Balance Equations for Reactive Separation in Polymer Upcycling.

Changhae Andrew Kim1, Chinmay A Sahasrabudhe1, Yi-Yu Wang2

  • 1Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 13, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a reactive separation strategy for polymer upcycling, enhancing middle distillate yields by removing volatile products. This method optimizes plastic waste conversion into valuable liquid hydrocarbons.

More Related Videos

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
07:28

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization

Published on: November 27, 2015

13.2K
Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
08:12

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2025

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

3.5K
Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
07:28

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization

Published on: November 27, 2015

13.2K
Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
08:12

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.3K

Area of Science:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Polymer Science
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • Polymer upcycling aims to convert plastic waste into valuable liquid hydrocarbons.
  • Cleavage of middle distillates into light gases is a significant challenge in current processes.
  • Catalyst presence in the liquid phase protects middle distillates in the vapor phase from further degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a reactive separation strategy for polymer upcycling.
  • To model polymer upcycling in a two-phase semibatch reactor.
  • To enhance the selectivity and yield of middle distillates.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized vapor-liquid equilibrium models.
  • Employed population balance equations (PBEs).
  • Simulated a two-phase semibatch reactor with a gas outflow.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that temperature, headspace volume, and flow rate can tune selectivity.
  • Showed that reactive separation boosts the yield of desired middle distillates.
  • Identified key parameters for controlling product distribution in polymer upcycling.

Conclusions:

  • Two-phase reactor models are crucial for polymer upcycling.
  • Reactive separation strategies offer a viable approach to increase product yield.
  • Optimizing reactor conditions can significantly improve the efficiency of plastic waste conversion.